Rotary sprinkler



Dec. 9, 1930. H. N. POTTER ROTARY SPRINKLER Filed Aug. 1, 1928 i 30 guide.

Patented Dec.. 9, 1930 UNITED seras yHnivnvivonrroman., or ENcrNITAs, CALIFORNIA ROTARY SPRINIKLER Y.Application filed -August 1, 1928. Serial No. 296,734.

This invention relates to rotary sprinklers, and particularly to sprinklers ofthe type' in which rotation is effected by the reaction of' the water discharged from the sprinkler. l In general, the automatically rotating de-` f vices of the type employed for the watering of lawns and. similar irrigation work are either of relatively complicated and expensive construction or the have not been entirely satisfactory in operation, due to serious leakage or to the binding of the rotary head. 'Ihe forces available for rotating the sprinklerfare relatively small and, thevcon- Y, ditions of use are such that the frictional resistance between the rotating partstends to increase rapidlyk kdue to tarnisliing orto the adherence of the films of foreign matter. The two requirements, freedom from leakage and a continuing .low frictional resistance,

,20 have not been satisfied'in the devices of the past.

vide an automatic rotary sprinkler which'inchicles a water-tight rotary connection of continuing lowl frictional resistance. yA further object is to provide `a rotary sprinkler in which the rotary elementturns upon an end thrust bearing and ris restrained 'against eX- cess lateral displacement by a loose-radial More specifically, an object is to provide a rotary sprinkler in which the bearing surface between the relatively movable parts has the form of a zone of a spherical surface,

the parts being permitted slight departure from coaxial alinementbyk looselyffitting guide elements. These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specifica-- tion kwhen taken with the w drawings,- in which y Fig. l is a central section through -tworelaaccompanying tively rotatable elements which exemplify features of my invention, Y Y Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a 4"; sprinkler in which the head is carried on the inner member. of relatively rotatable elements,

F ig. 3 is a similar vertical section through the centralpart of a sprinkler inpwhich the head is carried by the outer element,

An obj ect of the present invention is to'pro- F ig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, with parts shown-in section, of a double arm sprinkler embodying the invention,

Fig. 5 isa side elevation of a single arm sprinkler, and

Fig. v6 is a side elevation, with parts shown yin section, of a modified form of spindle.

In the somewhat diagrammatic4 illustration ofFig. 1the reference characters A, B identify, respectively, a hollow spindle and a sleeve between which a water-tight rotary connection is desired. From a theoreticaly standpoint, a satisfactory construction would result if the spindle had a snug it within the borel of the sleeve, and some means, such as a fiat or conical end flange of the spindle A, were provided to prevent axial displacement of the parts. In practice, however, such a bearing would be unsatisfactory as some play must bel introduced to yallow motion under service conditions. Insprinkler constructions ofthe type under rvconsideration, thel water serves as the lubricant for the bearing, and, aside from the tarnishing which may be expected when the usual materials are employed, lms of calcareous or other foreign matter may form on the. bearing surfaces.

The forces available for rotating the sprinkler head are relatively small and therefore a comparativelyy small increasel in the fric-Y tional resistance will prevent rotation. It hask heretofore been customary to provide so little play between the cylindrical bearing surfaces (that leakage might be avoided with a new sprinkler) thatinjurious friction was Y certain toV develop and/or increase when the sprinklerwent into use.

I have found thatboth leakage and injurious increase of friction may be prevented when the inner face ofV flange C and the cooperating face of sleeve B are given the form of zones of a spherical` surface which preferably has its center located in the axis of sleeve B. When thesurface of the thrust bearing has this spherical form, the parts may slide, as well as rotate, upon each other without destroying the full surface contact which provides thewaterfseal Since the eectiveness of thevjointfi-s,not'dependent upon a coaxial arrangement of the cylindrical surfaces of the Vspindle and sleeve, I can, and preferably do,

Y provide so much play betweenthese surfaces the spindle and sleeve, the axial play'fbeing ,y 3 which receives the discharge arms. ,v inner face of the flange 4 of vspindle 2 andthe Lcooperating surface 5 atfthe counterbored end that the sleeve acts only as a limiting guideY for the spindle and not as a bearing, to maintam co-axial relatlons.

Rotary sprinklers having a combined bear-A i ofthe sleeve 1 are lzonesof the same spherical surface. It is lto be noted that there is conf siderable axial as well as radialplay between taken up by hydraulic sprinkler is in use. t

The sleeve 1 is shown as threaded-into vthe pressure when ithe,

end oi.y a fitting 6, but the exact constructiony of the support for the stationary member of the sprinkler is not involved'in'the present invention. f

n' The spindle 2 may be yused as they 'station-'f ary member by fixing the same to anappropriate pipeend or supportj; and connecting the Y'il' cou'pling'l kto the sleeve 1.

`InFigl, I have tillustrated a sprinkler which is 'of the same general construction as that shown,V in Fig. '2. The sleeve 1V" is coun? terboredf'fromits inner endto space the zonal bearing surfaceg within the sleeve, andy it is alsoi counterbored fromu its outer end tol receive the boss1or11eg7fof the T-fitting 8 to' 'which the distributing arms 9 are attached.

ThezT-'fitting is threaded upon the outer end 'of the spindle 2 and, at its inner end, theV spindle carries a washer which rests upon they upper zonal surface of theflange 4. TheY v washer 10 maybe of leatheiyabbitt metal, phenolic' resins :V or other suitable fmaterial n that is waterproof vand vvvear-resisting, when,

sev

1 YThe sleeve and spindle may be' lformed of brass, but other andy more corrosion-resistant materialsmay be employed, such, forexample, asbronze, 'nickel-silver. or nickel, or,"if

desired, the sleeve 2-may be of"diecast com'- vosition, or a molded plastic such as phenolic resin. The `distributin rarms and other auxilii'arypartsxiiay be of rass or othersuitable material such as galvanized iron, or cadmium Vorfcltromium'platedl steel. v 1 The counterborinV offone or y 69.

the.` sleeve .is desira le VsinceV it permits the ,use'ofa'slorter spindle, thus reducing the rel fsistan'ce 'to flow of water therethrough and materially reducing the cost when formed of f f the relatively expensive corrosion-resistant -f metals orfalloys. Whenawasher is employed,

They

both ends bf,

the recessing of the zonal bearing surface 5 affords protection for the washer.

A' further modification illustrating theY Y Wide limits within which the construct-ion may be varied is shown in Fig. 5. The sleeve l may be of the form shown in Fig..4, but

the rotating head 11 which is carried on the spindle not shown), has the general form of an L-ftting as it carries but one distributing arm 12. o f f Inthe modifed'fyspindleconstruction which' f is shown in Fig. 6, the spindle 2 is simply a short `length of pipe having secured thereto a threaded ring or end flange 4 uponA which the -Washer 10. is seated. The exposed surwasherf is preferably not fixed either tothe Vend'flange or' tothe spindle topermit relative 4rotationbetween ythe zonal surface of washerIOandeitherthe zonal surface '5 of -the.sleeve,or"4 of ythe spindle. y

rItis tobe noted Vthat `the invention distinguishes fromy prior sprinkler constructions designedtoprovide a water'seal and bearing between elements such as a spindle andl sleeve, by employing an end thrust bearing and a'loose radial guide, the surfaceV of theV thrust bearing having the form of a zone of aspherical's'urfac'e. 'In the priordevices,

a relatively tightrbearing was provided byr the cooperating cylindrical surfaces ofthey spindle andsl'eeve,l andy in those devices which employed a flanged spindle, fthe`- fl'aaigjgeswere;l never so shaped that they `would maintain an effectivewater seal in operation,

sinceeven a slight radial play between spindle'and sleeve prevents a full surface contact'between spindle flange and-sleeve.

iop v ,Itf 'will be understoodr Vthat the rotary i sprinklers embodying the present invention, may bei ofwidely varying construction and generalappearance, since various changes may bemade in the several parts, theirrela` tive size, shape and location'n without departure yfrom the spirit ofmy invention las set forth in the following claims.

" 11.7In a, sprinkler, a `pair ofrelatively roy tatable elementsA COmPfiSing a hollow spinde withinand loosely guidedfor rotationr byv a' sleeve, and means vfon said elements prof# viding an end thrust bearing, the 'Contacty f r`surface of said'bearinghavingthe formofa f. zone of a spherical surface, wherebywithiny f the y-rangeof relative movement permittedby the loose guidingjaction of' saidl sleeve,

`ajtightwatersealis provided by the spherf icalV sufrfacesfofJ 'said thrust bearing when water is supplied to said sprinkler. f

2. In a, sprinkler, a pair of; relatively 1rotatablerelements comprising a hollow spindle. within and loosely guided for'rotation bya sleeve,an end flange on saidV spindle coopl' 'erating' with a seat on said sleeve to provide a thrust bearing, the cooperating surfaces 80 f facefof ywasher 10fis of zonal form and the CIV of said flange and seat having the form of zones of spherical surfaces.

3. A sprinkler as set forth in claim 2, in combination with a wear-resistant washer between and having opposite faces conforming to the adjacent spherical surfaces of said end flange and seat.

4. In a rotary sprinkler, a hollow spindle having a flange whose inner face has the form of a zone of a spherical surface whose center lies on the axis of said spindle, a sleeve surrounding and loosely guiding said spindle, the end of said sleeve being counterbored to provide a recessed seat conforming to and concentric with the inner face of said spindle flange.

5. In a rotary sprinkler, a sleeve having means for connecting the same to a water supply, the opposite ends of said sleeve being counterbored, a. hollow spindle passing loosely through said sleeve and having a flange cooperating with the inner counterbore of said sleeve to provide an end thrust bearing, the cooperating surfaces of said spindle flange and said sleeve being zones of concentric spherical surfaces, a head secured to the upper end of said spindle and having a depending cylindrical boss loosely received within the outer counterbore of said sleeve,

and a nozzle carried by said head.

6. In a rotary sprinkler, a sleeve having means for connecting the same to a water supply, the outer end of said sleeve being counterbored, a hollow spindle passing loosely through said sleeve and having a flange cooperating with said sleeve to provide an end thrust bearing, the cooperating surfaces of said spindle flange and said sleeve being zones of concentric spherical surfaces, a T- fitting having the leg thereof threaded upon the outer end of said spindle and loosely received within the counterbore of said sleeve, and discharge arms connected to the branches of said T-fitting.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

HENRY NOEL POTTER. 

